Improvement in shank-lasters for boots and shoes



rrn STATES ORRDT B. CLARK, OF LA FAYETTE, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHANK-LASTERS FOR BOOTS AND SHOES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 119,741, dated October 10, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ORRIN R. CLARK, of La Fayette, in the county of Tippecanoe and State of Indiana, have invented a certain Improvement in Shank-Lasters; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompany ing drawing making part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation.

The same letters of reference are used in both figures in the designation of identical parts.

This invention relates to a shoemakers tool, termed shank-laster; and my improvement consists in a novel arrangement of the jaws and their attachment to the handle, by which they are made to close automatically in operating the handle to stretch the leather over the shank of the last.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

The handle A terminates in a cam-head, A, upon the back of which a leather strap, B, is fastened. To the outer end of this strap the lower or inner j aw O of the pinchers is secured, it being formed with a loop on its shank through which the strap is passed, and then lapped to be riveted or stitched together, as shown in Fig. 1.

The upper or outer jaw G is also constructed with a loop, through which the strap is passed before it is secured to the handle-head. The jaws of the pinchers are serrated in the ordinary manner. Upon theback of the strap lies a flat spring,

D, the free end of which, extending beyond it, bears against the loop of the jaw C so as to throw the pinchers into the position shown in Fig. 1 when at rest.

In applying the tool the jaws of the pinchers are slipped over the upper on one side of the last, and closed by the hand, assisted by the spring. The ca1n-head of the handle is then placed against the opposite side of the last and the handle turned in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 1, in doing which the upper will be clamped by the pinchers the firmer, the stronger the strap is pulled. The cam-head of the handle is made of sufficiently larger dimensions that it will only be necessary to take one purchase on the last to stretch one side of the upper smoothly over the shank of the last.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of the handle A, strap 13, and pinchers composed of the jaws (land 0, the latter of which is constructed with a loop through which the strap passes, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of the handle A, strap B, pinchers O O, constructed as described, and spring D, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ORRIN R. CLARK.

Witnesses:

JOHN OoNNoLLY, J r., JAMES CRANGLE. 

